Corn-husking machine.



No 722,448. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. F. J. FITZPATRIGK. I

I CORN HUSKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED rm. 2, 1901.

'30 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 722,448. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. Y

F. J. FITZPATRIGK.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE. APPL'IUATION FILED FEB. 2, 1901.

8 SHBIETSSHEET 2.

No. 722,448. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

P. J. FITZPATRIGK.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED H13. 2, 1901.

:80 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m: Noam: P'EYERS on. vno'rouma. WASHIAGTON, o. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANK J. FITZPATRIOK, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,448, dated March 10, 1903. Application filed February 2, 1901. Serial No. 45,708. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. FITZPATRICK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Frederick, in the county of Frederick and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Husking Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to corn-husking machines, and more particularly to that class which not only husk the corn, but are adapt-ed to remove the silk as well.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for removing the husk and silk from corn, one in which the corn is fed into a hopper and is carried on a series of belts throughout the entire process, in which both ends of the ear are removed, the husk and silk taken off, and the corn deposited in a suitable receptacle at the end of the machine.

With these objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear my invention consists in the particular construction of the various parts and in the novel manner of combination and arrangement of said parts, all of whichwill be more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, which are intended to accord in their terms, spirit, and meaning with the prior state of the art and the existing law.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line a: 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the silk-removing device. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the elongated cam.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, 1 represents the table or frame supporting the mechanism, having secured to one end thereof a hopper 2, into which the corn is fed. Journaled in suitable bearings at each end of this table are shafts 3 and 4, each carrying oppositely-disposed sprockets 5 and 6, connected by sprocket-chains 7 and 8, having mounted thereupon oppositely-disposed U-shaped supports 9, adapted to receive the ears of corn.

The shaft 3 is provided with a circular .15, carrying the circular knife 16.

Mounted in suitable brackets or supports over the shaft 4 is a shaft 17, carrying a series of oppositely-disposed blades or knives 18, adapted to split the husk upon the ear, and a gear 19, which meshes with a correspondin g gear 20, keyed to the shaft 4. Meshing with a gear keyed to the end of shaft 4, is a gear 21, which is keyed upon and adapted to drive the shaft 22, carrying sprockets 23,which are connected by sprocket-chains 24 and 25 to corresponding sprockets 26, mounted upon the shaft 27 at the rear endof the table.

Mounted upon the sprocket-chains 24 and 25 are revolving spring-actuated plungers 28, having upon their inner ends a series of prongs 29 for engaging the ends of the ears and provided upon their outer ends with cogged stops 30, adapted to engage elongated cams 31, which are secured upon the top of the table and curve around the end. The curved ends of these cams extend beneath the table and are sufficiently close together to engage the inner sides of the stops 30 when in the position shown in Fig. 5, their curved portions diverging, so as to gradually force the stops apart as they travel along the cams, as shown in Fig. 4, in which position the spring-actuated plungers 28 are depressed. The stops, and thus the spring-actuated plungers 28, carrying the prongs 29, retain the position shown in Fig. 4 until they are brought in a line with an ear of corn held in the U- shaped supports, at which point the parallel- The plungers are forced apart, and thus the prongs drawn from the ear, and accordingly the ear is dropped,when the stops are broughtin contact with the curved portions of the eled gears 35, keyed to shafts 36, supporting I rotary brushes 37. The gear 32 meshes with a gear 38, having a bevel-gear face 39 meshing with a beveled gear 40, keyed upon and adapted to drive the shaft 41, having a series of beveled gears 42 engaging beveled gears 43, which are keyed upon the shafts 44, having a series of fingers 45, arranged in rows thereupon for picking the silk from the brushes.

Mode of operation: The corn is fed into the hopper. From there it is received by the U- shaped supports and brought in contact with the circular knife 10, then in contact with the circular knife 16, thereby removing both ends, after which it passes under and is brought in contact with one of the blades 18 of the rotary knife, and from thence it passes on until the U-shaped support is brought in a line with the spring-actuated pistons, at

which point the elongated cams release the spring-actuated pistons and permit the prongs thereupon to engage each end of the ear and to support the same while it is passed over the rotary brushes, after which it is released at the end of the table, where the stops upon the spring-actuated pistons engage the elon gated cams.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will readily be seen, and I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, as I maywithout departing from the brushes arranged beneath the table and a series of brush-cleaners working in connection with the said rotary brushes, substantially as shown and described. A

2. In a corn-husking machine, a frame or table having a hopper at one end thereof, of shafts journaled upon thesaid table the said shafts carrying sprocket-gears connected by sprocket-chains having a series of oppositelydisposed U shaped supports, of circular knives mounted upon shafts on opposite sides of the said sprocket-chains, of a rotary'knife driven by a set of gears, of a second set of shafts carrying sprocket-gears connected by sprocket-chains provided with a series of revolving spring actuated plungers having prongs upon one end and a stop upon the other, of cams upon the table for engaging the stops upon the plungers, of a series of rotary brushes and a series of brush-cleaners working in connection with the said brushes, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. FITZPATRIGK.

Witnesses:

S. A. LEWIS, WV. H. LEBHERZ. 

